Cebu’s continued rise as a tourism and business hub is putting a renewed spotlight on one of the less glamorous—but essential—drivers of regional growth: connectivity.
Business leaders, industry representatives and policymakers recently gathered in Cebu to discuss how stronger links between destinations, businesses and markets can help sustain Central Visayas’ economic momentum.
The dialogue, organized by Philippine transport and logistics solutions provider 2GO, in partnership with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) Region VII, focused on the region’s economic outlook and the need for more reliable transport and supply chain networks.
For businesses, better connectivity can mean faster movement of goods, easier access to markets and more resilient supply chains. For travelers, it can translate into greater accessibility to destinations and more opportunities to discover what the region has to offer.
“When connectivity improves, businesses can move products faster and more efficiently. Tourism destinations become more accessible, supply chains build resilience, and new markets open,” CCCI President Regan Rex King said.
“A stronger Cebu requires stronger connections,” he added, pointing to the importance of closer coordination among the private sector, government and other stakeholders.
The discussion comes as Central Visayas continues to strengthen its position as one of the country’s major economic centers. DEPDev Region VII Assistant Regional Director Evelyn Nacario-Castro said the region was the Philippines’ fourth-largest regional economy in 2025 and is moving toward a more diversified and interconnected economy.
Part of that transformation is the development of transport and freight infrastructure. The region is set to have 90 Strategic High-Impact Projects scheduled for 2027, supporting efforts to modernize infrastructure and improve the movement of people and goods.
The forum also featured an executive panel on “Strengthening Connectivity for Tourism, Trade, and Regional Growth,” bringing together representatives from the business community and the transportation and logistics sector.
The discussion highlighted how travel, forwarding and maritime services intersect with the everyday needs of businesses and travelers, from getting products to their destinations to making leisure and business trips more accessible.
“We want to hear your pain points and identify your areas of growth so we can co-create solutions
together,” 2GO Marketing Business Unit Head Ethel Concepcion tells FrontpagePH.com, and likewise underscored the company’s dedication to sustained dialogue and collaborations that enable long-term progress for regional trade and tourism sectors.
For Cebu, where tourism and commerce remain closely intertwined, participants said connectivity is more than simply moving people and cargo. It is about creating opportunities for businesses, opening new destinations to travelers and allowing communities across the region to participate in economic growth.
The gathering underscored a broader push for closer public-private collaboration as Central Visayas prepares for its next phase of development, one where stronger connections could help Cebu remain a gateway not only to the region, but to more opportunities across the country.
(MAIN PHOTO – From left: Sharon Musngi-Ngo, Business Unit Head of 2GO Sea Solutions; Ethel Concepcion, Head of 2GO Corporate Marketing and Communications; DEPDev Assistant Regional Director Evelyn Nacario-Castro; Felix Taguiam, Regional Governor for Central Visayas of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; President Regan Rex King of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Faye Alonzo, Business Unit Head of 2GO Forwarding; and Francis Chua, Business Unit Head of 2GO Travel).